Help from the experts

Ok, I may be beating the **** out of a dead horse here, but I want to get into martial arts. I'm 6'1", and 200lbs (athletic) and was wondering what would be a good art to fit my build. I like the idea of the more traditional arts, from what I've seen (to me all of the UFC stuff looks the same) but I want something that actually works. I've been looking into: Hapkido, san soo kung fu, eagle claw kung fu, shito ryu, jeet kun do (I've done my homework and know it's not 'traditional' but I like it), limalama kung fu, and isshyn ryu (sp?). I've just been going from dojo to dojo and watching. They've all been cool except for the schmucks at united studio of self defense who were douche bags and said I had to set up an oppointment and they'd show me a video. I want a well rounded art that will incorporate striking and grappling, not strictly one or the other. As you may be able to tell, I'm more than willing to do my homework, any help from you guys would be great.

Its really hard to say over the internet without actually seeing how the dojos train and what the instructoers where like. From what you've told us stay away from that Universal Studio of self defense crap. They just charge ludicrious amounts of money for those with more cash than they know what to do with.

You've seen whats around..ask the instructors and choose what you like to do. Based on your build something like Hapkido or kickboxing would be good.

Your build, in my opinion, really isn't a factor unless you're planning on going into full contact fighting. If you're just looking for a good traditional art, to learn the art and self-defense..build isn't a consideration.

Hapkido -- a Korean art which I'm not really familiar with, but I know it's a heck of a lot better than TKD generally. Much more practical and I've heard good things about it.

san soo kung fu -- I have mixed feeliongs about this art, as there's a school in my area. I understand not ALL san soo schools are this way, but the one here locally preaches NO DEFENSE at all..pure offense..which I think is a bunch of BS. Also, it takes about 4 years to get a black belt from them (fairly normal actually), and then you can literally get another black belt every year after that. The local school here is VERY top heavy with many very high ranking belts. I disagree with this, but I can't say it's really wrong....

eagle claw kung fu -- I have no idea what this is or what it's about. kung fu GENERALLY is softer, more flowing technique than karate is. but not always.

shito ryu -- I've never seen it, but understand it's a good system.

jeet kun do -- from waht I've seen..it's pretty good, if you like the "if it works do it..if not, don't" attitude..certainly not traditional.

limalama kung fu -- I know nothing about this system,

Isshyn ryu -- what little I've seen of it, I like it. It's based a lot off of the system I do (shorinryu) and looks pretty good to me.

Speaking of JKD, don't be put off by its lack of traditionalism. Tradition is merely carrying out of outdated motions for the purpose of continuity. The important thing is that you can make what you're learning work, not that it is traditionally-based or not.

I'll ask the following question, do you want to spend a lot of time learning forms or not? If the answer is no then Jeet Kune Do is the ticket for you, though be careful and try to find out who your instructor studied with. There are a bunch of people who teach this art who are apparently self taught and that brings up quality control issues.

I can't tell you if Isshun Ryu, or Kung Fu San Soo, or the Hapkido is better, it depends on the instructor but be careful around the Eagle Claw, a lot of Kung Fu schools are affected by the "classical mess" that Bruce Lee complained about. Lots of formality and stylized structure before one gets down to actually learning fighting. Lima Lima is supposed to be a synthesis of polynisian (sp) fighting techinques and its founder is a notorous hard ass, so they might teach something that is quite combat effective.